Midbrain dopaminergic neurons are protected from radical induced damage by GDF-5 application. Short communication

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 1999;106(2):139-44. doi: 10.1007/s007020050146.

Abstract

Embryonic day 14 rat midbrain cultures were kept for 7 days in vitro and then intoxicated with radical donors iron and sodium-nitroprusside for 24 h. Tyrosine-hydroxylase positive neurons in cultures which were additionally treated with growth/differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) survived to a significantly higher percentage as compared to sister cultures without factor supplementation. Since the degeneration of TH positive cells is a key feature in Parkinson's disease, GDF-5 might be a putative therapeutical agent for this disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dopamine / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Ferrous Compounds / toxicity
  • Free Radicals / toxicity*
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 5
  • Growth Substances / pharmacology*
  • Growth Substances / therapeutic use
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Mesencephalon / cytology*
  • Mesencephalon / embryology
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Donors / pharmacology
  • Nitroprusside / pharmacology
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Free Radicals
  • Growth Differentiation Factor 5
  • Growth Substances
  • Nitric Oxide Donors
  • Nitroprusside
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • ferrous chloride
  • Dopamine